POSTCARDS

A SHORT HISTORY

1869 – 1918

GERALD J. ELLOTT MNZM RDP FRPSL FRPSNZ

FEBRUARY 2014

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POSTCARDS GERALD J. ELLOTT MNZM RDP FRPSL FRPSNZ

A short paper on Postcards, which would normally be described and included in the Postal Stationery discipline of Philately, and Postal History. Hopefully it will be of interest to all stamp collectors, philatelists and postal historians, and even make them interested in pursuing this facet of our hobby

1 October 1869 The first official Postcard was issued by AUSTRIA. It was 2 Kerenzer, size 122 x 88mm, six weeks later the size was changed to 121 x 74. Inscribed “Correspondencz Karte” with the head of the emperor Francis Joseph I.

1 October 1870 GREAT BRITAIN issued their first Postcard, 3½ x 4¾ inches, (89 x 122mm) printed by De La Rue, it was only issued for Inland use. On the first day of issue, a half million 500,000 card passed through the London Head Office. The postage rate was set a half of the letter rate, i.e. Halfpenny instead of One Penny. The imprinted ½d violet stamp had the profile head of Queen Victoria, from the contemporary adhesive stamps. The Post Office sold the cards at 12 for 6d, however the Stationers complained, and the rate was increased to 6½d for 12. The smaller size was 2⅞ x 4¾ inches, (75 x 122 mm)

First Post Office Issue 1 October 1870, Dundee 7 February 1874

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1 April 1872 Privately printed cards were allowed in Great Britain. 1872 During the year machines that made holes or cuts as cancellations were tried out at five places. In Manchester the machines cut pieces out of the edge of the card in the shape of a pentagon and semicircular. At Edinburgh and Birmingham the printed stamp was perforated with a single hole. At Liverpool the single hole was used as well as an Anchor shape, while in London the Anchor as well as a series of holes in the shape of an inverted Orb was tried. There was public dissatisfaction with such means, however because quite often part of the message or address on the Postcard was destroyed, the method of cancellation was discontinued after about a year of use.

Liverpool 5 March 1872

Manchester 22 March 1874

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1873 Germany issued their first official Postcard.

Hamburg 16 December 1872

The records show 1873 as the earliest date for issue

9 October 1874 The Universal Postal Union (UPU) was established for dealing with mail between members. 1 January 1875 A revised Great Britain Postcard was issued with the word “To’ omitted.

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1 February 1875 The colour of the imprinted stamp was changed, from pale /deep lilac to pale deep red brown.

Issued on 1 February 1875 on stout white card.

1 February 1875 This much thicker card was known as (Mr. Gladstone’s ‘stout’ card). These were sold for 8d per 12, and the thinner (original) cards were sold for 7d per 12, an increase of ½d, a minimum of six cards could now be purchased. 1 July 1875 Approval was given by the “UPU” to send Postcards overseas, and Great Britain issued an official Foreign Postcard with a postage imprint of 1¼d stamp. In anticipation of a rush by the public to use this new service, the Post Office made plans to engage extra staff, Clerks to receive 10d per hour and Messengers 7½d per hour.

Foreign Card issued 1 July 1875, 1¼d on thin buff card

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27 December 1878, Stanley Gibbons, addressed to Germany

8 May 1878, Bangalstown, to Bermuda

From an Officer in the 19th Regiment 1 November 1876 New Zealand issued Post Card Regulations with details in an “Order of Council” notice dated 24 October 1876. The postage rate was set at 1d, whether private or official. The front or stamped side of the card is for the address only, nothing whatever must be printed or written upon that side of the card. If contravened, then the card will be charged 1d on delivery. On the reverse side, any communication, whether of the nature of a letter or otherwise, may be printed or written.

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1 November 1876 – The design was based on the contemporary British postcard and printed by the Government Printing Office, from electrotype, the impressed stamp being produced from the die of the

Penny stamp, and the border and the body of the card from ordinary type.

Details were also given in relation to Private Cards and the stamping of the 1d impression. Similar designed and sized cards were issued by British Colonies, noted Western Australia, Victoria and Canada. 1878 The “UPU” held their Congress in Paris and France issued their first official Postcard.

2nd, Paris, France, 2 May-4 Jun.1878 Hand cancel for Universal Post & Telegraph Exposition,

Obs. 31 May-6 Jun. 1878

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1 April 1879 As a result of the “UPU” Congress, Great Britain, issued two new Foreign Postcards, 1d for use of those countries within the Union, whose letter rate was 2½d. While the other which cost 1½d were thicker than the inland, but thinner than those issued on 1 February 1875 issue, for those countries whose inland postage rate was 4d.

1 April 1879 - Three Halfpence, Postcard

The 1d Postcard was light buff board, 88 x 122 mm with a brown printed stamp. “UNION POSTAL UNIVERSELLE” Great Britain (Grande Bretagne) Postcard. It was the words “Great Britain” which caused a storm of protest from Ireland, and a new card was issued with “and Ireland” added. Whilst the 1½d also omitted Ireland, this was not changed as it was not used in Ireland, and it was not changed until four years later.

One Penny Postcard (Slightly thinner than the 1½d card

The 1¼d issue of 1 July 1875 was now made obsolete and was withdrawn.

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1879 By the end of 1879 the annual total of Postcards dealt with by the Great Britain Post Office was 150 Million. 2 October 1882 Great Britain issued its first “Reply Paid” Postcards.

December 1916/1917 - Stout white card ½d + ½d

The Postage rate went up to 1d + 1d on 3rd June 1918

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December 1916/1917 - Stout white card ½d + ½d Reply side (Unused)

1883 The UPU Postcard had the word “Ireland” added to the Great Britain Heading

One Penny Postcard GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND

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5 August 1889 The “Heligoland Postcard was issued.

This Postcard had a very short life as Great Britain ceded Heligoland to Germany in 1890 16 May 1890 The first Commemorative Postcard. Great Britain placed on sale “The Guildhall Postal Jubilee” Postcard. Jubilee of Penny Postage, 10,000 cards were issued with the proceeds going to the “Rowland Hill Benevolent Fund.” 6d each, and by July they were been sold at 1 guinea.

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2 July 1890 To mark the Jubilee of Penny Postage a special envelope with a letterpress stamp was issued, together with a corresponding souvenir card, printed by De La Rue and sold for one shilling, to raise funds for the “Rowland Hill Benevolent Fund.”

Commemorative envelope

Commemorative Card

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March 1892 New Zealand issued its first “Private Stationary” item; a special postcard was printed for Messrs Austin Walsh & Co. a firm of tobacco merchants in Auckland. The card measured 70 x 40mm. 80,000 cards were printed by the Government Printing Office fro eight separate electrotype plates. In Great Britain, “Stamped to Order Cards had been available from 17 June 1872.

Apart from the novelty of being the first item,

It is much smaller than other postcards. 1 September 1894 At long last De La Rue’s monopoly was broken as far as the printing of Great Britain Postcards were concerned. Private Postcards were allowed by Great Britain, maximum size 3¼ x 2¼ inches (82 x 57mm). Adhesive stamps could now be used. The regulations were similar to those for the official postcards: - a. Nothing shall be written, printed or otherwise impressed on the side of the postcard which bears the stamp except the address to which the card is to be delivered. b. The name and Address of the sender. c. Any directions to the ‘mode’ in which the Postcard is to be dealt with , such as “Immediate”, “Local”, “Forward”, “OHMS”. 11 December 1894. The Great Britain Post Office reminded manufacturers that their names and trademarks should not be on the address side of a Postcard. 1894 The first British Picture Postcards were probably printed by Messrs Geo. Stewart of Edinburgh and F. T. Corkett of Leicester.

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1 January 1895 In 1894, the New Zealand Post Office decided to issue “Reply Cards”, however it was decided to call them “Letter-Cards”

The views on the reverse are of Mount Cook, Mitre Peak, Milford Sound, Lake Taupo with Mounts Ruapehu and Tongariro, and the Sutherland Falls. These cards were issued in several different colours.

21 January 1895 Great Britain placed on sale a new “Court Size” official Postcard 4½ x 3½ inches (115 x 89mm). German Postcards were larger than the British Postcards 140 x 89 (5½ x 3½ inches), being the maximum size allowed by the Universal Postal Union.

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16 June 1897 Writing a message on the address side of a Postcard was no longer formally forbidden. With the Government allowing correspondence to be written on the reverse of a Postcard, this coincided with Valentine's success in collotype printing, a lithographic technique which mechanically reproduced images for printing as postcards. Messrs Valentine & Sons of Dundee, who commenced in 1851, produced their first Picture Postcards. Valentine’s were well known photographers and by 1879 they were in great demand having grown into one of the largest establishments in the country. By the end of the century, Valentines had established the perfect method for cheap reproduction of postcards. They were also able to use their immense collection of topographical negatives to issue series after series of scenes from throughout Britain. 1 November 1899. Great Britain issued Postcards of the maximum size allowed by the ‘UPU’, 140 x 89 (5½ x 3½ inches. 1900 Great Britain Picture Postcards issued prior to 1900, are extremely rare. 1 January 1901 New Zealand issued a commemorative card to celebrate Universal Penny Postage.

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22 January 1901 Queen Victoria died, and the next day Queen Victoria commemorative cards were being issued. January 1902 The Postmaster-General (UK) sanctioned the use of “divided back” Postcards, which provided space for the message on the same side as the address, with a vertical dividing line.

1908 Postcard posted in New Zealand

Universal Postcard with the Dividing Line

21 June 1904 Metal Postcards had to be posted into covers. Tinsel cards likewise (4 June 1907)

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1914 – 1918 There were many types of official and privately produced postcards during WWI. The most poignant are those handmade postcards made at the front line, especially those from the New Zealand troops at Gallipoli when the supply ship was sunk and there was a shortage of paper etc., the cards being made out of any available card.

Gallipoli 7 June 1915

Gallipoli 10June 1915

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Other cards sent by the troops, when they were either fighting or were in camp or hospital, included the very well known “Silks”. Publicized as being embroderd by local French housewives.

Souvenir from France

1 November 1917

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Novelty Cards were also sent by the troops, either from camp or hospital.

HALTON CAMP 16 March 1917

It does not appear as if the instructions applied to Forces Mail?

This card has a series of views of Halton under the flap.

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Our Tent at CHICKERELL Weymouth

MONTE VIDEO CAMP Weymouth 25.10.1915 This card has a series of views of Weymouth under the flap

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3 June 1918 The British Postal Rate for Inland Postcards increased to 1d; however Postcards could still be posted for ½d, provided they only carried a “Formula of Courtesy” of five words or less, and not a message! Notes As well as pre 1900 Postcards, these other dates are also scarce – 1 January 1902 King Edward VII ½d and 1d 22 June 1911 King George V ½d and 1d 3 June 1918 1d rate The letter “T” should be applied to all Postcards which contravene the postal regulations of the Country of origin. Some German cards have the date on the bottom right hand corner, for example

191 k = January 1891 the eleventh day.

The Authorities ensured that Post Cards complied with the Regulations.

Example of an oversized card

13 September 1909 – “Exceeds size limits” and cancelled with the boxed “CONTRARY TO REGULATIONS 733”

Handstruck figure “1d” indicating 1d to pay on delivery

Note short horizontal black line, indicating the excess top margin!

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Example of a Prohibited card

The glitter is all embossed!

15 September 1908 Petone, New Zealand

Endorsed “Inadmissible” in red ink and also Handstruck “PROHIBITED” also in red ink.

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Undeliverable card

Endorsed “Returned Home Empire Hotel Sept 21/03” red ink

Boxed “Undelivered for reason stated”

It appears that it was originally posted at Finsbury Park (Highbury) London, and as it was not a New Zealand address it was sent to the New Zealand Dead Letter Office23 December 1903.

Gerald J. Ellott 13 February 2014,